Fuel line, in front or back of dash pot

[AUSMHLY]

On page 76 of The Big Healeys, by Graham Robson, there is a photograph of the engine compartment of a BJ8.

It shows the fuel line being run in front of the forward dash pot. It also shows the line being held in place by a bracket.

Is this how it was done at the factory?

Mine is run behind the pot. If correct is in front, where would I find the holding bracket?

I could not find any reference in the Austin Healey Concours Registry.

I'll include three photos here.
Last one is the printed insert on the same page, 76, of the photo.

 

[tahoe healey]

I've never seen that on a Healey but it reminds me of the attachment on my MGB. I'm not near my Healey at the moment but I don't remember the banjo being able to receive a fuel line at that angle.
TH

 

[Bob_Spidell]

I run my fuel line behind the forward dash pot although I believe that to be 'non-standard.' If I run it in front of the dash pot it rubs against the bonnet.

Would love to get my hands on one of those brackets (maybe I'll fab one).

 

[stevebn2bj7]

That is how it is run on the BJ7 but using two brackets holding the petroflex in place.

 

[AUSMHLY]

I run my fuel line behind the forward dash pot although I believe that to be 'non-standard.' If I run it in front of the dash pot it rubs against the bonnet.

Would love to get my hands on one of those brackets (maybe I'll fab one).

Bob, you live in CA? Near San Leandro?

"Would love to get my hands on one of those brackets" (maybe I'll fab TWO, one for Roger).

Dude, you rock!
If it rubs against the bonnet, maybe the arc is too long?

Anyway guys, I'm curious about correct placement of the line, being I've never seen it in front, till that picture.

Cheers,
Roger

 

[AUSMHLY]

That is how it is run on the BJ7 but using two brackets holding the petroflex in place.

Where does the second bracket attach?
Could you post a photo?

 

[tahoe healey]

They may create vapor lock being over the heat of the exhaust.

 

[Randy Harris]

I'm with TH. Why run that fuel line over the manifold and expose it to addl
heat?

Roger, I'm curious, since you have entered and placed very high in Concours level shows and have not yet been dinged for this, why the interest in changing your fuel line routing?
Cheers!

Randy

 

[Bob_Spidell]

I run my fuel line behind the forward dash pot although I believe that to be 'non-standard.' If I run it in front of the dash pot it rubs against the bonnet.

Would love to get my hands on one of those brackets (maybe I'll fab one).

Bob, you live in CA? Near San Leandro?

"Would love to get my hands on one of those brackets" (maybe I'll fab TWO, one for Roger).

Dude, you rock!
If it rubs against the bonnet, maybe the arc is too long?

Anyone know the OD of the fuel line? I'll see what I can do; but probably not for awhile (getting ready for a long road trip).

FWIW, I've run mine behind the carb for many years, including a couple runs through Death Valley at 115degF--no vapor lock problems.

I live in San Jose.

 

[AUSMHLY]

I'm with TH. Why run that fuel line over the manifold and expose it to addl
heat?

Roger, I'm curious, since you have entered and placed very high in Concours level shows and have not yet been dinged for this, why the interest in changing your fuel line routing?
Cheers!

Randy

Guys, my question is how did it come from the factory?

If indeed it was in front from the factory, I would think if heat was an issue, they would not have kept it there and moved it to the back. I don't know if heat is an issue, unless someone here chimes in and says, yes I had mine in front and heat was an issue. (Maybe the black and white photo shows it wrong?)

Randy, maybe the judges are not aware, my judge, of the line being run in the wrong place (which is the question I've posted).

As I've always said... it's all in the details.
And I do pay attention to the details in my Healey.

Party on!
Roger

 

[Patrick67BJ8]

I recall that my BJ8's petroflex line had a rubber sleeve on it for routing through a clamp. Where the clamp was I can't seem to rec all(killed that brain cell). I also seem to recall the hose hitting the bonnet. FWIW
Patrick

 

[tahoe healey]

I have an exploded diagram (sales brochure) of a Phase Two that showed it behind the carbs next to the fender. Difficult to see as it is a drawing with the fenders "cut away". My Phase One came that way.
Correct me if I am wrong, Roger, but you are going against all cars and not just Healeys. And yours IS the best of show in those competitions, no question, hands down a winner. I have watched Healey Concurs judging and I think it approached obsessive/compulsive. Anything varying from what left the factory was dinged.
My goal is "nice, original driver". They'd laugh at me at a Healey Concurs judging.

 

[richch]

The b/w photo from the book is showing a very early prototype development BMC photograph with a P bracket similar to the pair that had been used on the BJ7. However, this was not carried through in BJ8 production practices. The fuel line ran over the dashpot like in Roger's picture, approaching the float chamber inlet pipe from about straight above.
Yes at least the National Concours Registry sanctioned judges know and care.
Also, I would respectfully point out that an original sales brochure is not a dependable information source.
The aforementioned rubber sleeve is located in the P clip in Roger's photo that is mounted to the vertical shroud support member.

 

[AUSMHLY]

TH,
You and a lot of other knowledgeable Healey guys will look at my car and notice a lot of things that are not Concours correct. Wrong valve cover, polished carbs, chromed nuts (acorns no doubt), water return line, P-clips, spin on oil filter...don't get me started. But running the hose in front or back, not a big deal, but an easy fix and it will be one more thing that is not wrong or lets say one more thing that is right between the what's wrong and what's right scale.

I just noticed the fuel line in the photo and thought I'd ask here. For I could not find the answer in the Concours Registry. Feel me guys.

It'll be interesting to see how many read and respond to this thread before it gets forgotten.

Then I'll bring up another quirky question.
Rock on.
Roger

Richch just posted before I got mine up.
Glad to see I have mine routed correctly.
Nice explanation.
Thank you!

 

[GregW]

FWIW I'd think the float bowls would be a bigger heat issue than the fuel line. The fuel running through the hose would help keep temps down somewhat. Since the bowls are larger, the fuel sits there longer and also closer to the exhaust manifold (or headers).

 

[tahoe healey]

Weren't there some issues with in line fuel filters placed too near heat causing vapor lock a few years ago? That was why it was suggested to put them forward of the carbs. Maybe this was on one of the other forums.

 

[Bob_Spidell]

Interesting conversation but, for the life of me, I can't believe it's that much cooler in front of the dashpot. We're talking about 4-5 inches, and the hot air gets circulated--or stays put, perhaps--throughout the engine compartment.

If there was a P clamp on the prototype that didn't make it to production it's probably because a beancounter at Austin figured he could save a few pence.

 

[stevebn2bj7]

Here is the photo of the BJ7 setup.